The annual Festival of Urbanism is a series of conversations where researchers, practitioners, community advocates and industry leaders come together to debate the threats and opportunities facing our cities.

The Festival is the Henry Halloran Urban and Regional Research Initiative’s flagship event program designed to encourage discussion about our urban and regional built environments. The panel discussions, keynote addresses, city walks and the student film competition all underscore the need for the need for research informed dialogue and policy innovation to bring about better urban and regional futures.

The Initiative promotes scholarship, innovation and research in town planning, urban development and land management. This is achieved through collaborative cross-disciplinary and industry research that generates innovative approaches to urban and regional policy, planning and development issues.

With cities at the forefront of challenges ranging from climate change to public health crises, social inequality and economic uncertainty, the Henry Halloran Urban and Regional Research Initiative fosters and promotes research, education and dialogue across and between the many disciplines, professions and communities vital to addressing these challenges. In doing so it supports and leverages a critical mass of scholars who can work collaboratively to provide practical, multidisciplinary solutions to the challenges of urban and regional growth and change, promoting the importance of cities.